Betting Baseball: The Braves Take On Detroit In Sunday Night Baseball Action

In what may be a World Series preview, the Atlanta Braves will wrap up a three game series against the Detroit Tigers on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball tonight. Mike Minor will take the mound for the Braves. Minor is 3-1 on the season with a 1.80 ERA. He’s never faced the Tigers before in his career. In his last start, Minor held the hot-hitting Rockies to three runs on five hits and two walks in 20-degree temperatures Tuesday. He battled without his best stuff, relying on off-speed pitches and mixing in his heater.

His counterpart on the Tigers is right-hander Doug Fister. Fister is 3-0 on the year with a 2.00 ERA. He likewise has never faced the Braves. Fister pitched through a Miguel Cabrera error that led to three unearned runs and lasted seven innings for a no-decision, though he hit three batters along the way. He has delivered three consecutive quality starts.

The Tigers are currently -132 favorites in tonight’s games. Despite almost 60% of the betting public on Atlanta, the line has increased slightly from the -127 opener at Pinnacle.

The total for the game opened at eight runs but has been bet down to 7.5. Weather may be the reason. Tonight’s forecast calls for intermittent rain during the game. The temperature will be around 55 degrees.

Dan Iassogna will be the home plate umpire for the game. He has been behind the plate four times so far this season, with home teams going 1-3. The Over has hit three of the four games Iassogna has been umpire. Teams are averaging sixteen strikeouts and 6.5 walks per game so far this season with Iassogna calling the pitches. He typically is a strike caller: Iassogna ranks 13th of the 70 full-time umpires in calling strikes over his career.

The Braves are leading baseball in home runs with 36 so far in 2013. They will have their work cut out for them with Fister, however. Fister is a ground ball pitcher who has given up just one homer on the season. The Braves have been road warriors so far this season, playing 16 of its last 18 games on the road. They will finally return home after tonight’s game.